Adoption Lifebooks

I have been wanting to write this post for awhile, but didn't have the book ready to show you all yet.  I finally finished it!  A lifebook is a book for your child that explains some of the ins and outs of their life and adoption.  It is meant to create a "starting place" for you to be able to have open conversations with your child about their beginnings.  Sadie, our eldest daughter, has a pretty complicated birth family and so this book is meant to introduce some of these difficulties in a child-friendly language.

The book that helped me IMMENSELY with this process and terminology can be found here.  The book reviews lots of different scenarios such as children adopted through the foster system, international, and domestic adoptions.  The thing I appreciated about it the most is the examples of language used to explain really difficult situations about the birth mother and family.  It also gives a few full lifebook examples for each of the adoption situations above.  I plan on creating one of these books for Keller as well, but coming up with my own language for embryo donation/adoption.

If it will help you get an idea of what I am talking about, you can view Sadie's lifebook here.  I created it using Snapfish, so if you don't already have an account with them, you will need to create one.

Hope this helps someone!

Ok.  So, I just posted this blog entry and minutes later found another book using a Christian perspective to create a lifebook for your child.  It wasn't out when I first started this project a YEAR ago (things can take me forever sometimes)! You can look at it here.  I am wigging out because this is the part that I always felt was missing from the book I just created, but didn't know how to put into words.  I am going to have to buy this book now too and probably do some editing to my already created book : ).  Grateful to have found this new resource!

Houston, we have a problem!

That problem is spelled h.e.r.n.i.a. Ugh! About a week ago, I noticed that the muscles right at my thigh and groin were kinda achy. I just chalked it up to round ligament pain and didn't think much about it....until last Friday when I needed to lie down before dinner because it hurt so badly. Yet, I still got up and went out on a date with my hubby that night. When we got home, it was hurting pretty badly again and finally noticed a lump where it hurt. When I looked in the mirror, I about freaked because it was a HUGE lump and I had no idea what it was. My husband was the first to think and suggest it was a hernia and, sure enough, he was right.

I went to the doctor who told me that they just take a wait and see approach, since I am pregnant. The risk is something called strangulation where the intestine's blood supply can get cut off and cause the need for emergency surgery. I have an appointment with my OB on Monday to talk with them about it and then plan on visiting a general surgeon to see what they say. It is pretty uncomfortable at times, mostly when standing up. When I am lying down, it feels fine and the lump disappears. I think the danger occurs when the lump is no longer going away when lying down.

I'm not sure how all of this will affect my birthing plan. Some have said that they were still able to have a natural birth with the hernia and others have said that they had a c-section with the hernia repair all at the same time. Hoping we get some clarity with all of this as we visit with various doctors and hear their opinions. I am learning how to trust God in the circumstance and let go of expectations. A lesson which had already begun to form from my last birthing experience. : )

Other than that, all things are great here! I love feeling baby girl kick and move. I'm so grateful for another chance to experience pregnancy. We think we have named our little girl, but are waiting this time to announce.

Ill get back with you all once we hear from the doctors. We'd appreciate your prayers, as always!

National Doughnut Day!

Go get your free doughnut today at Dunkin or Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Yum!

22 weeks

I am such the slacker! I haven't taken a belly shot in awhile now, so thought I'd better get on it! I'm doing well and feeling pretty good. I take a nap pretty much everyday in the afternoon which allows me to be a functioning part of society, but other than that I feel great!

We have been busy kicking names around. This last girl has been harder to name for us! We may actually wait until she is born to announce her name. We are also trying to figure out the when and how of moving Sadie and Keller into a room together. We really aren't looking forward to it. Keller usually wakes up earlier than Sadie and they will probably keep each other up at night, but I'm sure it will workout somehow! Plus, I had just decorated Sadie's room last November and LOVE it. Unfortunately, we will have to take this room for the baby though because it is much smaller than Keller's.

I am planning on switching OB practices after my next appointment. I am only doing this because the new practice offers water births for women attempting a vbac. Otherwise, I would stay put where I am. The new practice is like a 45 minute haul for me. Not looking forward to that! But, I really think it is where I need to be.

Hope you all had a good weekend!